Temporary absence from the home

You can continue to receive Housing Benefit if you are temporarily away from home for up to 4, 13, 26 or 52 weeks, depending on your circumstances. In order to be eligible to receive housing benefit when absent, you must:

usually live in that home

intend to return to your home

not rent out your home while you're away

You must tell the housing benefit service in advance if you know your stay away will last more than the rules allow you. If you don't tell the housing benefit department about any change in circumstance you could be overpaid housing benefit which will then be recovered from you.